MLI Research Advisory Board member Elliot Tepper spoke to CTV about the escalating trade conflict between the US and Canada. After a rocky G7 meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Trump remain at odds over trade.
“These are the strongest countervailing measures that Canada has taken since the end of the Second World War,” said Tepper.
Tepper suggested that there is a domestic logic to President Trump’s latest moves on trade. “The subtext to all of this… is that Donald Trump is playing to his base.”
Morever, Tepper argued that “Donald Trump is leading this charge as a protectionist as the head of a party that is in favour of free trade,” and that “this is an inter-party fight.”
Tepper commended Canada’s management of trade relations with the US, but noted that the situation will continue to become more difficult as it evolves. “Canada is now going to go through a very rough patch.”
